A catalyst for a new neighbourhood in Manchester.

The project sits at the heart of a new urban quarter on the HS2 masterplan near Piccadilly. We developed the HS2 masterplan into the Portugal Street East Strategic Regeneration Framework. The SRF provided a deliverable, flexible framework and enabled a number of other schemes to also come forward as a mixed use, cohesive neighbourhood.

The project is comprised of a 30 storey tower and a 24 storey tower. The towers are linked by a central amenity block which addresses a major new park. The project sits above a ‘half in half out’ basement which frees the ground floor to present positive active frontage to the city.

Each tower has its own identity: there is a simple vertical, flush emphasis to the taller tower, whilst the shorter but longer block is articulated with a rich pattern of brick reveals and terracotta tiles. The amenity block is an elegant and welcoming glass building. The scale of the base of each tower relates to the neighbouring historic buildings. Private external resident’s terrace are located at the ground floor and the roof of the 30 storey tower which complement the new public park.